Socrates

NAPOLI - JUVENTUS - MATCHDAY 6 Saturday, September 26th, 2015 - 8:45 PM San Paolo Stadium - Naples Referee:‬ Daniele Orsato Sarri: ‘Juventus more than a game’ http://www.football-italia.net/73468/sarri-%E2%80%98juventus-more-game%E2%80%99? Sep 25, 2015 Maurizio Sarri admits Napoli-Juventus “goes beyond the table”, but doesn’t see himself or Max Allegri as being under pressure. The Partenopei welcome their great rivals to San Paolo tomorrow, with both teams struggling for form in the early weeks of the season. “We’re talking about a match played in September, so I don’t think anyone is at risk,” Sarri mused in his pre-match Press conference. “Tomorrow’s game, for me, isn’t important for the table, it’s a special game, and I know how important this match is for Neapolitans. “I hope I can convey to my players how important this match is for all the Napoli fans. With Juventus it’s a match that goes beyond the mere fact of the table. “If you look at the reality, at the moment this is a mid-table clash. “They’re coming off an amazing cycle, so we can’t think that our goals are the same as Juventus. We’ve started on a new path since the summer, it takes time. “They still played well against Frosinone, they were just unlucky. “Am I excited? If I got excited every time you told me to, I’d pass out! “Of course, as I’ve said, it’s a special game, and I hope to make our fans happy, as it means so much to them. “Our intention is to control the game, and Juve will try to do the same. We’ll see who can dominate the pitch.” The Vesuviani drew with newly-promoted Carpi in midweek, but the former Empoli boss doesn’t feel his side played badly. “Carpi caused us problems, because they didn’t give us any space, but I still saw a good team. They didn’t lose their heads, they stayed calm until the end. “There are some games where you can’t make the breakthrough. Sometimes you risk losing those games. “The data shows that the team had their best result of the season from a physical point of view.” http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

NAPOLI - JUVENTUS - MATCHDAY 6 Saturday, September 26th, 2015 - 8:45 PM San Paolo Stadium - Naples Referee:‬ Daniele Orsato Napoli and Juventus search for consistency as Inter set Serie A pace http://www.espnfc.co.uk/italian-serie-a/12/blog/post/2630630/napoli-and-juventus-search-for-consistency-as-inter-set-pace? Sep 25, 2015 Shortly after Frosinone clinched a historic promotion to Serie A last season, their centre-back Leonardo Blanchard decided to take a last-minute holiday with a couple of friends. It was a road trip so Blanchard bought supplies -- beer, water and McDonald's -- before they set off one night from Grosseto. Their destination? Berlin. After a 13-hour drive, Blanchard and his mates found themselves in Alexanderplatz at 2pm on the day of the Champions League final. They had come to support Juventus and, upon meeting up with a supporters' group from Orbetello, they spent the afternoon "eating, drinking and singing at the top of our lungs." At the Olympiastadion that evening Blanchard posted a selfie in the Juventus end, where he sat with the Viking Juve 1986 ultras. "When Alvaro Morata scored [to make it 1-1] we covered ourselves in beer and hugged each other," he told Il Corriere dello Sport. "It was bedlam." At the end of the game, Blanchard watched a defeated Juventus come over to salute their fans. "I dreamt of playing against them," Blanchard revealed. Not only did he get to do that, the 27-year-old also scored in Turin on Wednesday night. His 91st-minute equaliser clinched Frosinone their first-ever point in Serie A and, of all places, it came at the home of the Italian champions, his team. "It all seems like a joke now that it's happened," Blanchard explained to La giornalaccio rosa dello Sport. "But it's all true." He got Paul Pogba's shirt as a memento. "For a Juventus fan like me, the No. 10 shirt has great sentimental value. I never got Del Piero's so I asked Pogba for his at the end of the game. He was a little angry. We gave each other some on the pitch and he was the one supposed to mark me on the goal. But he was then very nice." One imagines Blanchard would have been more conflicted if his header had condemned Juventus to defeat. Perhaps it might have done. Frosinone should have had a penalty earlier in the game when Andrea Barzagli stopped Alessandro Frara's shot from going in with a hand. The result was the latest disappointment for Juventus and questions are being tentatively asked of Max Allegri. Injuries to Morata and Mario Mandzukic made perplexing the manager's decision to again leave €32m signing Paulo Dybala out of the starting lineup. Allegri gradually introduced Morata last season but, without Carlos Tevez to take care of business while Dybala learns the ropes, Juventus' current circumstances are different. Hernanes' absence from the kickoff also raised eyebrows, particularly given he did so well in the "Andrea Pirlo role" at Man City in the Champions League and then didn't feature against Genoa. Still, it wasn't like Juventus struggled to control and create vs. Frosinone. They had 64 percent possession and Pogba and Simone Zaza hit the bar. In all, Juve took 36 attempts on goal -- their most in one game for 10 years. After Zaza opened the scoring, Juventus couldn't kill the game. Nor could they manage their lead and that was what really upset Allegri. Thirty seconds or so before Blanchard scored, Juventus had a corner of their own. Instead of holding onto the ball and running down the clock, though, Dybala went on a mazy dribble and shot wide. Juan Cuadrado had done something similar against City, provoking a furious reaction from Allegri. On that occasion Juventus weren't punished for giving the ball back to their opponents. This time they were. When you're young, you make mistakes and Wednesday's team, with an average age of 26 years and three months -- two years younger than the one that beat Genoa -- paid for its inexperience. Juventus dropped six points at home in the last two seasons. This term, in games against Udinese, Chievo and Frosinone, they have already dropped eight. "At the moment we're a team that can beat anyone and lose to anyone," Allegri smarted. Next for the defending champions is a trip on Saturday night to Napoli, who themselves are something of a Jekyll-and-Hyde team. After winning 5-0 in back-to-back games against Club Brugge and Lazio, Napoli most recently were involved in the first 0-0 of the Serie A season against top-flight debutantes Carpi. By contrast to Juventus, where the glass is half empty at the moment, particularly as Stephane Lichtsteiner has joined Claudio Marchisio, Sami Khedira and Kwadwo Asamoah on the sidelines, it's half full with Napoli. After their slowest start since 2000, the influence of new coach Maurizio Sarri is beginning to be seen. Unlike Rafa Benitez, he has compromised on his system of choice -- the 4-3-1-2 -- and opted for a 4-3-3 which better suits the players at his disposal. Sarri has calibrated the team nicely. The return of left-back Faouzi Ghoulam has allowed Elseid Hysaj to go back to his flank of preference, the right. Both get forward in sync and are fine crossers of the ball. Misused under Benitez, Jorginho has been positioned at the heart of a midfield trio rather than in a tandem and is finally beginning to show his Hellas Verona form as a deep-lying playmaker. He has lifted the tempo of Napoli's passing game. You might say Allan has also been key. The midfielder led the league in tackles last season but, since joining Napoli in the summer, has already scored more league goals for his new team -- two -- than he did in 104 games for Udinese. His assist for Manolo Gabbiadini, as Napoli took revenge on Lazio for knocking them out of Champions League contention at the end of last season, was a vertical pass behind the defence that few believed he had in his locker. Napoli's midfield now has a lovely balance to it. Further forward, Lorenzo Insigne has been in scintillating form and must be the most exciting player in the league at the moment. His defence-splitting pass for Gonzalo Higuain vs. Lazio received the rosa perla -- "pink pearl" from La giornalaccio rosa, an award for the best piece of skill on a matchday. The firepower of this team, as personified by Higuain, has long been its strength, while the defence has been a weakness. But Sarri's drone analysis -- he films the back line, its shape and its movements from the sky -- has obviously had an effect. A hat trick of clean sheets represents the most encouraging improvement on the Benitez era. Saturday's game is a delicate one for both Napoli and Juventus. Neither can afford to lose. Napoli are nine points adrift of leaders Inter and Juve are 10 behind. It's still early and there's a long way to go but making up that distance already looks like a challenge. With five straight wins, this is Inter's best start since 1966. They're on maximum points but, after coming through the Milan derby two weekends ago, on Sunday they face their biggest test: a top-of-the-table clash with Fiorentina. They too have not come out of the blocks this fast in many a year. Not since 1998. to be precise. Back then they were crowned winter champions only for Gabriel Batistuta to get injured and Edmundo to go AWOL at the Rio carnival. So the question is: might this be the day Inter finally slip up? Napoli and Juventus had better hope so; Roma too. But all must also take care of their own business. Otherwise, they risk Inter running away with it. http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

Juan Cuadrado Is Getting Back to His Fearsome Best at Juventus http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2571950-juan-cuadrado-is-getting-back-to-his-fearsome-best-at-juventus? Sep 25, 2015 The name Juan Cuadrado means two very different things to two very different sets of fans. The first set—those of the Serie A and Colombian persuasion—picture an agile, lightning-fast, direct winger capable of dominating the right-hand flank and tormenting full-backs. The second—largely Chelsea supporters—see a man with a dodgy barnet who is incapable of running with a football at his feet. Ladies and Gentlemen, we present the modern-day conundrum of Cuadrado, the player who went from hot to not in January with near-inexplicable speed. Chelsea signed the Colombian from Fiorentina in the closing stages of the winter transfer window for £23.3 million, replacing the similarly priced Andre Schurrle, who had joined Wolfsburg at the start of the year. He was supposed to bring pace, width and production to a right side that sorely needed it, and in projecting the player to the Premier League, most experts felt good about the potential fit. But there are no guarantees in football, and particularly when it comes to Jose Mourinho and wingers, history suggests things very rarely ever work out. Already the Portuguese has been through a small pile of excellent wide men during his second stint at Chelsea, with Schurrle, Mohamed Salah and now Cuadrado coming and going quickly. Wingers who look stunning at other clubs seriously struggle at Stamford Bridge, and the turnover in the forward areas is quite staggering, to tell the truth. The problem is sourced in what Mourinho asks of a winger; the very bespoke role he creates for the man who plays at No. 7—opposite golden boy Eden Hazard—has got the better of several, and it will get the better of several more. Tracking, pressing and running are the first three things the No. 7 must commit to. The only success story to date in this area is Willian, who changed the very fundamentals of his game to prosper and keep his place. The Brazilian, a skilful, creative wizard at Shakhtar Donetsk and Anzhi Makhachkala, learned to graft in order to stick around. In 2013-14 Mourinho produced a 6x4 formation, favouring a low defensive block and picking four players to press high. A trophy-less season, sure, but it set the groundwork for the 2014-15 double. Willian emerged as a key player in this system due to his willingness to press, his tenacity in tracking and his ability to lead the side in transitional play. In contrast, Salah and Schurrle were perhaps a little individualist to fully grasp this role, and with Hazard given relative freedom on the opposite flank, it’s important to maintain a semblance of structure on the other flank. Still, the fact he was a No. 10 pushed wide showed, with Branislav Ivanovic forming the total sum of the club’s width on the right flank. The stage was set for Cuadrado to take this team to the next level; his love for the touchline and traditional winger tendencies were exactly what Mourinho needed, and on a tactical and stylistic level, the Colombian was a smart buy. But it all went horribly wrong. Cuadrado did at least try, but the culture shock of such a different role (he’d always been one of the top outlets or key attacking pieces in his previous sides) led to a confidence crisis. All of a sudden he couldn’t even kick a ball, struggling to run with it, struggling to pass and failing to deliver any balls of note from the flank. “He can't run, can't cross and can't shoot. Other than that, he's fine,” B/R’s Chelsea writer Garry Hayes bemoaned in June. A man transformed—and not in a good way—Cuadrado had gone from one of Europe’s most deadly wingers to a fluffy kitten chasing after a ball of twine in the span of three six months. An abject performance in Chelsea’s International Champions Cup loss to Fiorentina—Cuadrado’s former club—on the eve of the 2015-16 season represented the final straw. Whereas Victor Moses (another winger on the precipice) worked hard to make his impact felt even though the Viola were dominating, his Colombian team-mate simply drifted, looking entirely nonplussed by proceedings. He was shifted out on loan to Juventus after the services of Barcelona’s Pedro had been secured. Oscar, Willian and Pedro would rotate in midfield, one giving way depending on the game, and Cesc Fabregas, also capable of playing as the No. 10, provided enough depth to allow the Colombian to leave. The kicker is, so far Cuadrado’s been very good for the reigning Italian champions. He’s a player they will have had their eye on while he was in Serie A playing for other clubs but the price tag was too rich; now, they get their man on loan with a cut-price permanent figure agreed for 2016. It must be noted that his end product is still looking a little bit iffy, but the spark and dynamism we associate with Cuadrado is most certainly back. Juventus have endured a difficult start to their title defence, procuring his five points from their opening five games, but the Colombian is no concern. Against Manchester City and against Frosinone, Cuadrado played from the right flank and put in exciting, impactful performances. Some jinking runs and accurate, troublesome deep crosses, mixed in with some hard work and studious keeping of the formation, have been the catalyst for a change in fortunes for the player Against Frosinone, he even began to venture infield after 25 minutes to see more of the ball in key areas; he started beating markers one-on-one and opening up gaps in the opposing formation, initiating quick interchanges and upping the tempo of Juve’s game. At the Etihad Stadium, he put in a stellar positional display on the right side, holding the shape of the team, and burst forward with gusto on the counter given the chance. The placement of some of his crosses—right in the sweet spot between the defensive line and the goalkeeper, where anything can happen—reminded of the Cuadrado of old. This shouldn’t come as a surprise; it became clear during the summer that his form was only an issue at Chelsea, as while on international duty at the 2015 Copa America, he sparkled in Colombian yellow once again. “This isn't the Cuadrado I watched from February to May,” ESPNFC’s Miguel Delaney tweeted during los Cafeteros’ 1-0 victory over Brazil, in which he played a starring role. Juventus may have started the season slowly, but Massimiliano Allegri’s main issues are obvious: an extreme drop in quality in the central midfield and striking positions. Carlos Tevez, Arturo Vidal and Andrea Pirlo are gone, and it’s clear Paul Pogba is now carrying this side through the middle even when playing against the likes of Chievo and Frosinone. Cuadrado has gone from being a last-resort asset in London to one of Turin’s brightest lights. He’s an attacking spark that Juventus now look to to make the difference in a game. It’s a welcome change for the Colombian, who is now showing his all-round best back in a league where he feels he belongs.

NAPOLI - JUVENTUS - MATCHDAY 6 Saturday, September 26th, 2015 - 8:45 PM San Paolo Stadium - Naples Referee:‬ Daniele Orsato Allegri Not Disappointed With Performances Despite Slow Start http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2015/09/juventus-coach-not-disappointed-with-performances-despite-slow-start/? Sep 25, 2015 Massimiliano Allegri has claimed Juventus have played well despite their poor run of results. Juve find themselves in 13th place in Serie A with five points from five games and face Napoli at the weekend who have one point more than their rivals, but Allegri is not worried about his team’s slow start to the season. “Juventus are in a crisis with results, but not with performances. We have time to climb back up the table,” Allegri told reporters at this pre match press conference. “There’s definitely something that isn’t working, we must be calm and composed during a match. “It’s not a decisive game against Napoli, but this is a very important week for us. “There isn’t any aspect of the team that has let me down. We have deserved four or five more points but that is football.” Allegri then went onto speak about what Juventus can do to improve. “Last year people were sceptical about my arrival, only results and what happens on the pitch matter,” Allegri continued. “Actions speak louder than words in difficult times. We need to focus only getting the right results going forward. “Criticism is part and parcel of my job. I’m convinced we will do well as I know what this team is capable of achieving. “At Christmas I’ll tell you where Juventus can finish, we’ll definitely have a different position in the table by then.” http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

NAPOLI - JUVENTUS - MATCHDAY 6 Saturday, September 26th, 2015 - 8:45 PM San Paolo Stadium - Naples Referee:‬ Daniele Orsato Napoli vs. Juventus: Team News, Predicted Lineups http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2571712-napoli-vs-juventus-team-news-predicted-lineups-live-stream-tv-info? Sep 25, 2015 Juventus travel south this weekend, with a tough encounter against Napoli at the Stadio San Paolo awaiting them. Having once again dropped points in a disappointing midweek draw with Frosinone, it is imperative the Bianconeri deliver a positive result in this important clash. While their most recent outing—reviewed in detail here—saw signs of improvement from Massimilano Allegri’s men, they now have just five points from five Serie A matches in 2015/16. OptaPaolo ✔ @OptaPaolo 0 - Juventus have picked-up 5 points from the first 5 MD of this campaign, a Club's negative record in Serie A with 3 points for a win. Odd. Conceding in the 91st minute left the coach infuriated, and he had no hesitation explaining his opinion as he addressed the performance in his post-match press conference. “I’m angry because we must improve quickly,” Allegri said per the club’s official website. “At this moment we’re shipping goals from the first opportunity that falls our opponents’ way, you simply cannot concede from a corner with two minutes remaining.” It was clear that message was received by the players too, with Mario Lemina telling JTV (h/t the Juventus website) that they must learn from their mistakes and that “everyone needs to stand up and be counted.” The same is true of Napoli, however, with Maurizio Sarri seeing his team held to a 0-0 by Carpi just days after a five-goal demolition of Lazio. “The team is alive and kicking,” the coach told Mediaset Premium on Wednesday (h/t Football Italia) and he will want to further evidence of that against a much more difficult opponent. Juventus have lost just two of their last six visits to the San Paolo, outscoring Napoli by 12 goals to seven, while the games have been ill-tempered affairs. According to WhoScored.com, those matches saw no fewer than 31 yellow cards, and that pattern is almost certain to continue. Predicted Formations Napoli (4-3-3) Pepe Reina; Elseid Hysaj, Raul Albiol, Kalidou Koulibaly, Faouzi Ghoulam; Allan, Jorginho, Marek Hamsik; Dries Mertens, Gonzalo Higuain, Lorenzo Insigne Unavailable: None Juventus (4-3-1-2) Gigi Buffon; Simone Padoin, Leonardo Bonucci, Giorgio Chiellini, Patrice Evra, Mario Lemina, Hernanes, Paul Pogba; Juan Cuadrado; Paulo Dybala, Alvaro Morata Unavailable: Mario Mandzukic, Sami Khedira, Kwadwo Asamoah, Claudio Marchisio, Stephan Lichtsteiner (all injured) Player to Watch Looking for a player to watch, it is perhaps Paulo Dybala who Juventus will lean on heavily at the Stadio San Paolo. The Argentinian star has been one of their few consistent performers in 2015/16, and injuries to the club’s other strikers mean his performance against Napoli will be even more important. Dybala has made just two starts in Serie A, even sitting out on Wednesday night against Frosinone despite the Bianconeri missing both Mario Mandzukic and Alvaro Morata with knocks. “We are not expecting Dybala to be the main man right away this season,” the latter told Tuttosport this week (h/t BeIn Sports), but the team will depend upon him here. The player himself will hope to add to his impressive tally, having netted three goals in four appearances for his new club. Key Battle The matchup most likely to decide this encounter will come down the Napoli left, the area where Lorenzo Insigne has largely operated this term. The local-born attacking midfielder has seen his form reinvigorated under Maurizio Sarri’s guidance, and has arguably been the club’s best player thus far. Insigne has netted two goals while adding two assists in the opening five games of the season, causing opponents constant problems as he drifts around the pitch. Keeping an eye on him will be a major factor for the Bianconeri, at a time when their right-back spot is one where they are particularly suffering. Martin Caceres has missed the past few weeks with injury, and this week saw Stephan Lichtsteiner admitted to hospital with breathing difficulties. According to the official Juventus website, “it is unlikely that he will be available” to face Napoli, and whoever is tasked with marshalling Insigne will have a tough evening. Odds (via Odds Shark) Away win: 83-50 Home win: 33-20 Draw: 227-100 http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

NAPOLI - JUVENTUS - MATCHDAY 6 Saturday, September 26th, 2015 - 8:45 PM San Paolo Stadium - Naples Referee:‬ Daniele Orsato Max Allegri press conference roundup: Álvaro Morata returns, Martin Cáceres still out injured http://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2015/9/25/9396779/juventus-napoli-max-allegri-martin-caceres-alvaro-morata-serie-a-round-6 Sep 25, 2015 Outside of Juventus dropping points at nearly every turn so far this season, the most consistent thing we've seen from the four-time defending Serie A champions is the fact that injuries are happening all around us. Pulled hamstring here, quad muscle strain there. It's been a relatively routine task to read about somebody dealing with something in the hours following a Juventus match. Álvaro Morata has been one of those players who has felt the early-season wrath of the injury bug. There was the preseason injury, then the early-game substitution against Genoa last weekend. It hasn't been a season with any kind of luck for Juventus, and that's certainly the case for Morata as well. But after missing Juventus' 1-1 draw with Frosinone midweek, Juventus manager Max Allegri has announced at his pre-match press conference on Friday afternoon that Morata — who scored the game-winning goal in fine fashion against Manchester City a few weeks back — has returned from brief injury absence and will be available for selection when Juve face Napoli Saturday night. JuventusFC ✔ @juventusfcen .@OfficialAllegri: "@AlvaroMorata is available for #NapoliJuve." Good news! It's good news for once! Having Morata back in the fold will be an obvious boost to a squad — and group of strikers — that is clearly in need of something right now. If Morara wasn't fully fit, Juventus would be going into their trip to Naples with only Paulo Dybala and Simone Zaza as the only healthy strikers available to Allegri. It's one thing to have that happen against Frosinone, it's another thing to have no options whatsoever against a team like Napoli. Now we wait and see if Morata's availability results in Allegri putting him right back into the starting lineup when Juve face Napoli. And, in turn, if Morata is available to start, what formation will Juventus field because of it. Then again, there's an answer for that in just a couple of seconds here, so why wait? Let's just go ahead and get straight to the point. Other things of note during Allegri's pre-match press conference: With both Stephan Lichtsteiner and Martin Cáceres still out with their respective ills, Allegri said it's either Simone Padoin at right back or back to the tried and trusted BBC three-man backline from the opening kickoff. (I have a feeling this will certainly result in plenty of pro-Padoin supporters coming out of the woodwork once again. Or, more than likely, maybe even some kind of reasoning as to why using a 3-5-2 actually makes sense with the current injury situation.) Allegri has laid out a timetable for the (almost) return of Cáceres and some of the other injured players. Cáceres will return in time to face Sevilla next week, while midfielders Sami Khedira and Claudio Marchisio will be back training with the full squad next week and after the international break, respectively. Boy oh boy do they need Marchisio back as soon as humanly possible right now. During a week where Juventus will be facing Napoli and Sevilla within a few days of one another, Allegri is preaching calmness from his players. That sounds like a good idea. I also suggest staying calm when having a goal-scoring opportunity instead of blasting the shot over the goal by 20 yards. Allegri described Simone Zaza and Paulo Dybala's performances against Frosinone as "decent." I wouldn't exactly call that a ringing endorsement for either of the two young strikers. "Crisis? In terms of results, but not performances. It's the performances that will lead us to gain these results." So says Max. What say you? http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

NAPOLI - JUVENTUS - MATCHDAY 6 Saturday, September 26th, 2015 - 8:45 PM San Paolo Stadium - Naples Referee:‬ Daniele Orsato Orsato to ref Napoli-Juve http://www.football-italia.net/73459/orsato-ref-napoli-juve? Sep 25, 2015 Referee Daniele Orsato will take charge of Saturday’s Serie A showdown between Napoli and Juventus at the San Paolo. Sunday’s big game between Inter and Fiorentina will be overseen by Antonio Damato, while the experienced Paolo Tagliavento is in charge of Milan’s trip to Genoa. Referees for Week 6 Roma-Carpi: Massimiliano Irrati Napoli-Juventus: Daniele Orsato Genoa-Milan: Paolo Tagliavento Verona-Lazio: Piero Giacomelli Bologna-Udinese: Andrea Gervasoni Sassuolo-Chievo: Michael Fabbri Torino-Palermo: Maurizio Mariani Inter-Fiorentina: Antonio Damato Frosinone-Empoli: Marco Guida Atalanta-Sampdoria: Paolo Valeri http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

http://www.tuttosport.com/foto/calcio/serie-a/2015/09/23-4296194/juve-frosinone_le_emozioni_del_match/ http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/xcSyWQRb9Cl/Juventus+FC+v+Frosinone+Calcio+Serie/_1wLLE4J6TL

NAPOLI - JUVENTUS - MATCHDAY 6 Saturday, September 26th, 2015 - 8:45 PM San Paolo Stadium - Naples Referee:‬ Daniele Orsato History suggests Juventus and Roma cannot win Serie A title http://www.espnfc.co.uk/italian-serie-a/story/2630479/history-suggests-juventus-and-roma-cannot-win-serie-a-title? Sep 25, 2015 Juventus and Roma may as well give up hope of winning the Serie A title this season after just five matches, according to a study by Tuttosport. Defending champions Juve have picked up just five points from their first five games of the season. Never in the last 20 years -- since three points have been awarded for a win, and not considering the 2005-06 Calciopoli scandal season -- have a team recovered from such a start to win the Scudetto. In fact, Juve have even more to be concerned about after making their worst start to a season since 1970. According to the statistics for the past two decades, Juve would have to do something which has never been done before to qualify for the Champions League next season. The prospects are not much better for Roma, who have picked up three points more than Juve in their first five games, and enjoyed a 2-1 win over the Bianconeri. They have only a five percent chance of winning the title this season based on just one precedent in the past 20 years -- set by Allegri when he was in charge of AC Milan in 2010-11. They managed to win the title despite picking up just eight points from their first five matches. The Giallorossi did go close to winning the title in 2009-10 when they had only seven points at this stage, missing out only on the final day of the season to Roberto Mancini's Inter Milan. Mancini can be confident of winning another Serie A title this season given his side's perfect start to the season, on the other hand. Only Roma in 2013-14 and again last year failed to win the title after starting with five straight wins, while Inter had 11, 11, 10 and 13 points respectively in their previous four Scudetto triumphs, up to 2010. Roma do at least still have hope of playing in the Champions League next season, and not necessarily by winning it this term. In the past 20 seasons, one of the teams finishing inside the top three has started with eight or fewer points after five games nearly eight times. However, only four times have they managed to finish second. Inter face second-placed Fiorentina this weekend while Juventus head to Napoli, who have just one point more from their first five matches in what has been an anomalous campaign so far for the sides who have finished in the top three in the past two seasons. Roma will be hoping for three points when they host winless Carpi on Saturday. http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

NAPOLI - JUVENTUS - MATCHDAY 6 Saturday, September 26th, 2015 - 8:45 PM San Paolo Stadium - Naples Referee:‬ Daniele Orsato Juve sweat over Lichtsteiner http://www.football-italia.net/73452/juve-sweat-over-lichtsteiner? Sep 25, 2015 Stephan Lichtsteiner could reportedly be sidelined beyond Saturday’s Napoli clash, with Martin Caceres set to deputise. The club announced yesterday that the Switzerland international was ‘unlikely to be available’ for the San Paolo meeting after suffering from breathing difficulties during the draw with Frosinone on Wednesday. However, giornalaccio rosa dello Sport has reported today that the full-back’s condition could be worse than first feared and keep him out beyond this weekend’s match. The 31-year-old will soon undergo a series of tests to clarify his condition, but the website believes that Martin Caceres will step in to replace him. The versatile Uruguay international has made two Serie A starts so far this season and appears the most likely candidate as a like-for-like replacement with the Swiss. http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

Elkann: 'Juve must step up' http://www.football-italia.net/73445/elkann-juve-must-step? Sep 24, 2015 John Elkann told Juventus they need “the same determination against Frosinone as with Manchester City.” The President of FIAT and member of the Board of Directors spoke to reporters after last night’s surprise 1-1 draw with Frosinone. “What I hope is that Juventus become able to face teams like Frosinone with the same determination as they did with Manchester City. “Juve are improving and proved they are a great side against the English team, but there’s no doubt they must face every match with the same hard work and concentration required.” So far this season the Bianconeri have won only three out of seven games in all competition. Those were the Italian Super Cup against Lazio in Shanghai, Serie A at Genoa and Champions League away to Manchester City.

Bonucci: It Is Our Responsibility To Stop Juventus Fans Booing http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2015/09/bonucci-it-is-our-responsibility-to-stop-juventus-fans-booing/? Sep 24, 2015 Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci has told teammates that it is their responsibility to produce performances. The Italy international was left seething after his night as Bianconeri captain was ruined by a stoppage time Frosinone equaliser, a turn of events which he finds to be unacceptable for a club steeped in glory. “I would have liked my first experience as Juventus captain to have ended differently,” rued the 28-year-old on his Facebook page. “Unfortunately, we find ourselves here with two points thrown away. No ifs, no buts. “Let us leave the alibis to others and take responsibility to turn the fans’ boos into cheers at the final whistle.” Bonucci’s passion for the club was clear as he issued an action plan for the Juventus of recent seasons to make a return. “You need experience, we must bring back the hunger to bring the result home that has always come to those who have worn this glorious shirt, in Italy and in Europe.”

NAPOLI - JUVENTUS - MATCHDAY 6 Saturday, September 26th, 2015 - 8:45 PM San Paolo Stadium - Naples Referee:‬ Daniele Orsato Massimiliano Allegri Remains Confident In Juventus Side http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2015/09/massimiliano-allegri-remains-confident-in-juventus-side/? Sep 24, 2015 Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri remains confident in his team’s ability despite again dropping points in Serie A after Wednesday’s 1-1 draw against Frosinone at the Juventus stadium. The Bianconeri have now dropped 10 league points this season but Allegri remains confident that his side can improve starting with Saturday’s trip to the Stadio San Paolo to face Napoli. “I am not worried about things going wrong in Napoli,” Allegri told a press conference ahead of Saturday’s match. “I’ve told the players that they need to improve quickly. “We must remain calm as we have to put in a good performance in Naples and we also have the Champions League to think about too. “Why did I leave out Hernanes? I left Hernanes out of the last two games because they required a high level of intensity and now we have important matches against Napoli and Sevilla. “It’s normal that I have to manage my squad and that applies to everyone.” http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

NAPOLI - JUVENTUS - MATCHDAY 6 Saturday, September 26th, 2015 - 8:45 PM San Paolo Stadium - Naples Referee:‬ Daniele Orsato Napoli Vs Juventus – Higuain Vs Dybala: An Argentine Duel On Italian Soil Serie A has long had a rich volume and variety of Argentine players. Napoli‘s Gonzalo Higuain and Juventus‘ Paulo Dybala – two of the most exciting Argentine forwards in Italy – will face off in round six of Serie A action. http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2015/09/napoli-vs-juventus-higuain-vs-dybala-an-argentine-duel-on-italian-soil/? Sep 24, 2015 The trend of players from Argentina playing in Italy is by no means a new tradition, though there are a plethora of strikers who immediately spring to mind: Mauro Icardi of Inter, Maxi Lopez of Torino and German Denis of Atalanta, to name but a few. As you begin to run through your slightly longer term memory, you will be reminded of names such as Carlos Tevez, Hernan Crespo and Gabriel Batistuta, and though he is not strictly a striker, it’s impossible to write this piece without at least mentioning Diego Maradona. Merely comparing Higuain and Dybala is something I am reluctant to do. Though they do have similarities, they are fundamentally different players at different stages of their respective careers, who are at their best when deployed in different roles in different systems. At 27-years-old, Higuain is a player whose peak years have been more prolonged than most, nevertheless his critics seem more prominent than ever of late. The Napoli forward is more of a traditional No.9, but to describe him only as such would be doing him a disservice. A brilliant goalscorer wherever he has played, the one time ‘Galactico’ is a complete forward, and, when in form, you would be hard pushed to name a striker better than him in Serie A, and there are no more than a few better in Europe. Higuain is someone who can be an easy target when things aren’t going as planned. His body language is seldom subtle, and he is inclined to let his teammates know when he feels they have done wrong. Often lazily labelled as one-dimensional and a sulk, this is not a fair evaluation of an outstandingly prolific and consistent marksman. Following a disappointing end to the 2014-15 campaign that carried through to the 2015 Copa America, Napoli’s No.9 already appears to be keen to exorcise the demons of that infamous penalty miss against Lazio – a fixture in which he single-handedly clawed the Partenopei back from being 2-0 behind to find themselves on level terms – a detail often conveniently left out by his disparagers. As the Neapolitans avenged their 4-2 defeat with a 5-0 hammering of the Biancocelesti early this season, Higuain got himself on the scoresheet twice before being substituted early in the second half, meaning he has four goals to his name for the 2015-16 season already. In the interest of balance, one criticism of Higuain that is fair is the belief he often feels the weight of pressure that is so frequently placed on his shoulders. This was illustrated in his World Cup 2014 final miss, the aforementioned Lazio penalty, as well as his similar fate in the penalty shootout against Chile at the Copa America. Dybala, on the other hand, is more difficult to peg down, through him being at a much earlier stage of his career, and his style of play. If Higuain is a No.9, perhaps Dybala is a No.9.5. Comparisons are often made between Dybala and his predecessor at Juventus and compatriot, Carlos Tevez, and with Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero. These might appear to be generalisations and careless comparisons, but watching him play will prove their validity. I would cautiously and rather hesitantly describe him as tenacious though I will stop short of listing his canine-like qualities. In 35 Serie A appearances last season, the now 21-year-old scored 13 times, assisting a further 10. At that age, Higuain scored 22 times in 31 La Liga appearances for Real Madrid, assisting a further nine. Though, as previously stated, these statistics are not as directly comparable as they seem, given their different roles and relative stature of both Madrid and Palermo in their respective leagues. With regard to the stature of clubs, perhaps this season for Dybala will be more comparable with Higuain’s 2009-10 campaign, in which he scored a phenomenal 27 goals in 28 starts for Los Blancos, as well as contributing five assists. While this may be worth monitoring as the season progresses, it is important to remember that goals are not necessarily as much of a priority for the Juve forward, who will be helped by Alvaro Morata and Mario Mandzukic in that department. The latest Argentina squad announced by Gerardo Martino is interesting, in that Dybala has been called up, seemingly as a direct replacement for the unselected Higuain. It would be foolish to interpret this as a definite and permanent replacement, as I am of the inclination that both would complement one another perfectly and could strike up a deadly partnership in an already absurdly talented Argentine frontline. The duel between the two will provide interesting viewing as the Bianconeri make the trip to the Stadio San Paolo, and for the remainder of the season. http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

Lichtsteiner released from hospital after 'breathing difficulties' The Switzerland international was admitted after being withdrawn against Frosinone but has now been released. http://www.goal.com/en/news/723/serie-a/2015/09/24/15697262/-? Sep 24, 2015 Juventus defender Stephan Lichtsteiner has been discharged from hospital after being admitted with breathing difficulties, but is expected to miss the Serie A clash with Napoli. The Switzerland international was replaced by Giorgio Chiellini at half-time of Juventus' 1-1 draw with Frosinone on Wednesday and was later taken to hospital, where he was kept in overnight. The Italian champions confirmed on Thursday that Lichtsteiner has been released from the Mauriziano Hospital but he is likely to sit out Saturday's trip to the San Paolo. "Stephan Lichtsteiner was last night taken to Mauriziano Hospital after reporting breathing difficulties during the interval of the Bianconeri’s Serie A encounter with Frosinone at Juventus Stadium," a club statement read. "He was kept under observation throughout the night and discharged this morning after the symptoms subsided. His condition will be monitored over the coming days. "The defender did not train today and it is unlikely that he will be available for this weekends trip to Napoli."

JUVENTUS - FROSINONE 1 - 1 Simone Zaza (50') Leonardo Blanchard (92') MATCHDAY 5 Wednesday, September 23rd, 2015 - 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee:‬ Angelo Cervellera Lemina: ‘Too many dropped points’ http://www.football-italia.net/73428/lemina-%E2%80%98too-many-dropped-points%E2%80%99? Sep 24, 2015 Juventus midfielder Mario Lemina admits “we know we’ve dropped too many points” after poor early form. The Bianconeri have taken just five points from their opening five games, and drew at home with newly-promoted Frosinone last night. “We know we’ve dropped too many points,” Lemina told JTV. “It’s true that there are a lot of young players, but we have to be mature and avoid conceding a last-minute goal. Everyone has to take on their own responsibilities. “I’ll try to be ready to contribute to more fluid team play, to provide my physicality, particularly in defence to try and win as many balls as possible and stop attacking opponents. “The Coach has asked me to integrate quickly with the rest of the squad, because I play an important role in front of the defence, and I have to be more alert and focused. “I talk a lot, but I don’t want to say ‘defeat’ in a great team like this. This summer, after playing Juventus in a friendly [for Marseille] I never imagined I’d be here today, and I want to stay for a long time. “When I first arrived I was impressed, this is the biggest club in Italy, and there are great champions here who have won a lot of trophies. “My goal is to work hard and to try to achieve important objectives with this team.” Lemina also pointed to his compatriots Paul Pogba and Patrice Evra as the players who have most helped him to settle in Turin. “They’re important for me, because they’re helping me to integrate. A lot of people give me advice, but it can be hard to understand because of the language. Paul and Patrice translate what’s being said. “Evra in particular helps me a lot in that regard, and he’s been very good for my acclimatisation.” http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

JUVENTUS - FROSINONE 1 - 1 Simone Zaza (50') Leonardo Blanchard (92') MATCHDAY 5 Wednesday, September 23rd, 2015 - 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee:‬ Angelo Cervellera Frosinone shock the world Juventus hit rock-bottom when they conceded a late goal to draw at home against newly promoted Frosinone, while Inter seem almost unbeatable at the moment, writes Vincent Van Genechten. http://www.football-italia.net/73421/frosinone-shock-world? Sep 24, 2015 The Bianconeri finally took home three points on Sunday when they beat Genoa 0-2. They seemed to have turned to corner after a disastrous start to the Serie A season. But on Wednesday, Juve hit bottom. Once again, the Old Lady fired many times at goal [34], only to miss a series of solid scoring opportunities, as only seven shots were on target. Juventus sit at a shot accuracy of only 31 per cent, down from 44 per cent last season. They have now scored five goals in five games, while only taking on one likely Scudetto challenger in Roma. Still, Juve were on the verge of securing a second win in a row, leading 1-0 during stoppage time against Frosinone. And then the world of Italian football stopped for just a few seconds. The Canarini equalised on a corner kick when Leonardo Blanchard beat Paul Pogba in an aerial duel. Madness conquered the Frosinone players, disbelief silenced the home crowd. The visitors gained their first ever point in Serie A against Juve, scoring only their second goal. Max Allegri summed it all up for the Old Lady: “We can beat anyone, but also lose to anyone”. Saturday’s encounter with Napoli will be crucial. At Internazionale, everything is at ease. The Nerazzurri are still perfect after five games, beating Hellas Verona 1-0 when Felipe Melo headed home a corner kick. It was their fifth consecutive game winning by a one goal margin, with four of them being 1-0. Inter have only scored six goals so far, which puts them in last place amongst current leaders of the top five European leagues. But Roberto Mancini’s side have only conceded one goal. Inter look like the clear-cut Scudetto favourites and practically unbeatable at this moment. The same conclusion can’t be said of Napoli. The Partenopei dazzled against Club Brugge in the Europa League and last Sunday versus Lazio, winning twice with a 5-0 score. But at Carpi, the offensive machine struggled and failed to deliver. Napoli created a few decent chances but never dominated like they did during the previous two games. Their tempo was too slow and even Lorenzo Insigne couldn’t lift his team this time around. The 0-0 draw was the first in Serie A this season, and proved that Maurizio Sarri’s Napoli is still a work in progress. The same is true for Roma. The Giallorossi fought back at Sampdoria only to capitulate 2-1 when Kostas Manolas scored a comical own goal. It was Roma’s first defeat of the season, but one that stung. Mohamed Salah had equalized after Eder had scored its sixth goal of the season, and Roma were close to scoring the winning goal. Manolas spoiled the party when he stumbled and scuffed it into his own net from three yards. Since beating Juventus comfortably at home, Roma haven’t really made a big impression this season. Sampdoria meanwhile have scored the most goals in Serie A and look set for a solid season. Lazio regained some confidence after beating Genoa 2-0. Felipe Anderson finally played big minutes for the Biancocelesti and delivered a stunning goal that clinched the three points for his team. Genoa did have some great scoring chances, but Lazio held on for their third victory of the season. They’ve now won all three home games, while being beat 4-0 and 5-0 on the road. Behind Inter, Fiorentina and Sassuolo sit in second and third. The Viola once again kept a clean sheet and beat Bologna 2-0. Fiorentina have now won four games conceding zero goals, while only losing 3-1 to Torino on game day two. Sunday’s encounter with Inter will be telling about their aspirations this season. Torino suffered their first loss of the season, 1-0 at Chievo. Therefore Sassuolo remain the only unbeaten side other than Inter. The Neroverdi won 0-1 at Palermo with Sergio Floccari’s splendid solo effort proving to be enough. Sassuolo are now unbeaten in nine Serie A matches, the longest unbeaten run in the League. http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

Lichtsteiner out of Napoli-Juve? http://www.football-italia.net/73416/lichtsteiner-out-napoli-juve? Sep 24, 2015 Juventus have announced that Stephan Lichtsteiner is 'unlikely to be available' for Saturday’s clash with Napoli. The Switzerland international was withdrawn at half-time against Frosinone on Wednesday with breathing difficulties. A club statement today suggested he is unlikely to recover in time for the San Paolo meeting. “Following his discomfort with breathing difficulties notified during the half-time break of the match against Frosinone, yesterday evening Lichtsteiner was taken to the Mauriziano hospital for tests, where he remained under observation until this morning,” read the statement on Juventus’ official website. “The complete resolution of symptoms has enabled his discharge and his condition will be monitored over the next few days. “The player did not train today and is unlikely to be available for the next match against Napoli.”

JUVENTUS - FROSINONE 1 - 1 Simone Zaza (50') Leonardo Blanchard (92') MATCHDAY 5 Wednesday, September 23rd, 2015 - 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee:‬ Angelo Cervellera Barzagli: Juventus Lost Concentration In The Last Minute http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2015/09/barzagli-juventus-lost-concentration-in-the-last-minute/? Sep 24, 2015 Juventus defender Andrea Barzagli is annoyed that his side failed to see out the game against Frosinone in their 1-1 draw. The Old Lady conceded in stoppage time to a Leonardo Blanchard header, even after they had dominated the game and taken the lead through Simone Zaza. “We have mismanaged the last-minute, conceding a corner kick at the last-minute.” said Barzagli after the match. “The draw is hard to swallow, but it’s happened. Were we clinical enough in the attack? We created a lot, especially in the second half. “A team like ours can win 1-0, unfortunately we had to concede the corner at the end.” The point leaves the Bianconeri with just five points from five games, after they lost their two opening fixtures to Udinese and Roma. http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

JUVENTUS - FROSINONE 1 - 1 Simone Zaza (50') Leonardo Blanchard (92') MATCHDAY 5 Wednesday, September 23rd, 2015 - 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee:‬ Angelo Cervellera Frosinone Defender Fulfills Childhood Dream With Equaliser Against Juventus http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2015/09/frosinone-defender-fulfills-childhood-dream-with-equaliser-against-juventus/? Sep 24, 2015 Frosinone defender Leonardo Blanchard has claimed that his side are delighted to claim a point after a 1-1 draw against Juventus on Wednesday evening. Blanchard scored a late equaliser as Frosinone came from 1-0 down to draw 1-1 with The Old Lady, to shock the whole of Serie A and gain their first point of the season. “Fortunately we have brought home a point, from our first three games we put in good performances without bringing home a point.” said the 27-year-old to Sky Sport Italia. “We came here with humility, to fight like we always do. This draw gives us hope for the next match against Empoli which is certainly a direct rival for us. “We knew they could change the tempo of the game as they liked. We conceded a goal, but we were also clinical and lucky at the end, the goal was a huge relief for me and my team.” Blanchard was then asked what it was like to score at the Juventus stadium as a Bianconeri fan. “Two months ago I was in the corner with my face painted in black and white in Berlin, I dedicate the goal to my family. It has been a dream of mine since I was a child.” http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

JUVENTUS - FROSINONE 1 - 1 Simone Zaza (50') Leonardo Blanchard (92') MATCHDAY 5 Wednesday, September 23rd, 2015 - 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee:‬ Angelo Cervellera Bonucci: ‘No Juventus alibis’ http://www.football-italia.net/73411/bonucci-%E2%80%98no-juventus-alibis%E2%80%99? Sep 24, 2015 Leonardo Bonucci says Juventus must ‘take responsibility’ and ‘leave the alibis to others’ after their draw with Frosinone. The Bianconeri have started their Serie A title defence sluggishly, taking only five points from their opening five matches. Last night’s 1-1 draw with newly-promoted Frosinone was the visitors’ first point of the season and saw the Old Lady booed off the pitch by irate fans. “I would’ve liked my first experience as captain of Juve to end differently,” Bonucci wrote on his Facebook page. “I’m proud to wear the armband that has been worn by great champions who have shaped the history of Juventus. “Unfortunately, we find ourselves with two points thrown away. No ifs or buts. “Let’s leave the alibis to others and take responsibility to turn the whistles at the end of the match into applause. “This is how you become a team, and how you become great. “You need experience. We must bring back the hunger to bring the result home that has always distinguished those who have worn this glorious shirt and taken it to great heights, in Italy and in Europe.” http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

JUVENTUS - FROSINONE 1 - 1 Simone Zaza (50') Leonardo Blanchard (92') MATCHDAY 5 Wednesday, September 23rd, 2015 - 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee:‬ Angelo Cervellera Juventus Show Signs of Improvement Despite Disappointing Draw with Frosinone http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2571474-juventus-show-signs-of-improvement-despite-disappointing-draw-with-frosinone? Sep 24, 2015 There is little doubt that Juventus began the 2015/16 campaign poorly, failing to win any of their opening three league fixtures before appearing to turn the corner with a victory over Manchester City. They followed that up last weekend by beating Genoa, only to return to Turin on Wednesday evening and stumble again, held to a 1-1 draw by newly promoted Frosinone. Faced with such a result, it is all too easy to lambast the team, their coach and indeed their entire summer transfer campaign, yet doing so serves little purpose. It is surely better to analyse what this current side is actually producing on the field. The first point to make is that this game was all but won, with only a momentary lapse seeing their opponents equalise in the 91st minute. That the mistake was made by Andrea Barzagli—so often a reliable performer at the back—is indicative of the season so far, with a normally robust defence suddenly conceding too many goals. Indeed, the Bianconeri have kept just two clean sheets in competitive action this term, one in the Supercoppa triumph over Lazio and the other in Sunday’s victory over Genoa. Having ended last season as the league’s best defence, manager Massimiliano Allegri was visibly annoyed as he addressed the media after the clash with Frosinone. “I’m angry because we must improve quickly,” the Juve boss said at his post-match press conference. “At this moment we’re shipping goals from the first opportunity that falls our opponents’ way, you simply cannot concede from a corner with two minutes remaining.” That is true, and statistics courtesy of WhoScored.com serve to reinforce the point, with Frosinone having scored from what was their only shot on target. That same source is indicative of the other major issue blighting the reigning champions, showing that they themselves took no fewer than 36 attempts at goal over the course of the game. OptaPaolo ✔ @OptaPaolo 36 - Juventus fired 36 shots (inc. blocked) against Frosinone, the highest tally for Bianconeri in the last 10 Serie A years. Inaccurate. To do so and net just once is hugely problematic, and looking at the season thus far shows it is not simply a one-off occurrence. The Bianconeri lead all Serie A sides in shots per game according to figures from WhoScored.com—averaging 21.2 per outing—for a total of 106 thus far in 2015/16. That has seen a return of just five goals, and it is therefore somewhat surprising to see that only three teams—Napoli, AS Roma and Torino—have had more attempts on target per the same source. On Wednesday, Simone Zaza was particularly wasteful and should almost certainly have scored more than just the deflected effort that broke the deadlock. Juventus will hope to have Alvaro Morata back in action as soon as possible, the Spanish striker having proved already this term just how clinical he can be. The sight of Inter running away at the top of the Serie A standings only compounds Juve’s concerns, the Milan-based club recording five consecutive wins to hold a 10-point lead over the Bianconeri at this early stage. Yet even coach Roberto Mancini refuses to admit his team are favourites, telling Mediaset Premium (h/t Football Italia) this week that “difficult moments will arrive.” For Juventus they already have, and yet there were enough positives to believe that will soon be reflected in results, even against Frosinone. Juan Cuadrado continues to thrive in a variety of roles, playing well behind the strikers in the opening 45 minutes, then moving to a wing-back role after the break and maintaining a constant threat on the right flank. Adam Digby @Adz77 Juan Cuadrado vs Frosinone: 10/10 completed take-ons, 62/69 passes, five scoring chances created Repeatedly beating defenders, he created a number of chances, with the graphic above showing he completed all 10 of his attempted take-ons and laid on five scoring opportunities for his team-mates. Behind him, Mario Lemina enjoyed another excellent performance, the young midfielder turning in an error-free display in only his second appearance for the club. Paulo Dybala came off the bench to provide a more decisive edge to the attack; Juventus need their Argentinian star to be at his best in the forthcoming games against Napoli and Sevilla. There were enough positive signs to believe the team has continued to improve, but they certainly must begin to deliver wins quickly and make up ground on the early leaders. http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

JUVENTUS - FROSINONE 1 - 1 Simone Zaza (50') Leonardo Blanchard (92') MATCHDAY 5 Wednesday, September 23rd, 2015 - 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee:‬ Angelo Cervellera JUVENTUS 1-1 FROSINONE PLAYER RATINGS SERIE A Norberto Neto made his Juventus debut but it was a night to forget as Juve dominated against Frosinone but only managed to draw. http://www.juvefc.com/juventus-1-1-frosinone-player-ratings-serie-a/? Sep 24, 2015 Juve made a typically strong start with Juan Cuadrado dominating down the right and Paul Pogba hitting the post before Simone Zaza finally put the home side ahead. Paulo Dybala entered early in the second-half and while Juve continued to create chances Frosinone equalised with virtually the last kick of the game. Neto 6.0 - A spectator for almost all the first half, bar a few straightforward saves. Could do nothing about the later goal. Stephan Lichtsteiner 6.0 - Showed great attacking intent, overlapping with Juan Cuadrado to create chances down the right. Solid performance before being subbed in the second half. Andrea Barzagli 6.0 - Back to his best after a shaky start to the season. Kept the Frosinone attack very quiet with a strong defensive display but the whole defence was at fault for the equaliser. Leonardo Bonucci 6.5 - An exceptional night for the defender, despite the opposition. Showed great composure, did the simple things well and even created a great chance for Chiellini late on. Alex Sandro 6.5 - Another great performance, overlapping down the left, picking out his teammates with some great crosses and developing a good understanding with Pogba. Stefano Sturaro 6.5 - Played a solid 45 minutes where he provided some great free kicks and corners. Solid defensively yet again, just needs to work on his play in the final third. Mario Lemina 7.5 - The only highlight of the night was the youn 22-year-olds brilliant display in the middle of the pitch. Didn’t overdo anything, tackled well, won the ball back and played it forward again and again. Promising. Paul Pogba 6.0 - Still seems to be complicating things at times and looked caught in two minds on occasion when he had teammates around him. Hit the post with a brilliant header and had a number of half chances in the second half. Lost his man for the Frosinone equaliser and should have done better. Juan Cuadrado 7.5 - Another immense game where he was the heart of everything good that Juve created. Tore up and down the right flank, won countless free-kicks in dangerous positions and provided the assist for Zaza’s goal. Superb display. Simone Zaza 7.0 - Cut a frustrated figure in the first half, trying to create opportunities from the limited service he received. A different player in the second half, in part due to the change in formationa nd the introduction of Dybala. Took his goal well and went close to scoring a second shortly after. Roberto Pereyra 7.0 - Started the game playing out wide on the left and looked very promising, providing crosses and cutting in to shoot. Switched to his more customary role and steadied the midfield to secure the result. Substitutes Giorgio Chiellini 6.0 - Solid in the second half but spurned a great opportunity to put the game out of sight when he headed straight over the upright. Paulo Dybala 6.5 - Came on in the second half and lit the game up immediately. Tormented the Frosinone defence and showed just why he should be starting games. Hernanes 6.0 - Came on in the second half to keep Juve ticking over as Allegri switched to 3-5-2. Had a great effort that tested Leali from range. http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

JUVENTUS - FROSINONE 1 - 1 Simone Zaza (50') Leonardo Blanchard (92') MATCHDAY 5 Wednesday, September 23rd, 2015 - 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee:‬ Angelo Cervellera RATINGS: Juventus 1-1 Frosinone http://www.goal.com/en/match/juventus-vs-frosinone/2120421/ratings Sep 24, 2015 Juventus 25 Neto - Wasn't tested often, but had good command of his area. Had a couple of saves to make to earn the clean sheet. 26 S. Lichtsteiner - Didn't have much success contributing in the final third, but was responsible in possession, not forcing the issue. Subbed off at half-time. 15 A. Barzagli - Never did put a foot wrong at the back, while a fine cross to pick out Chiellini nearly resulted in the second Juventus goal. Not to blame for the equaliser but they switched off in defence and were made to pay. 19 L. Bonucci - A terrific showing in defence, while also proving so effective with the ball at his feet. Tested Leali with a good strike from range, coming close to doubling his side's lead. 12 Alex Sandro - Superb on the overlap, finding plenty of space and was always picking out team-mates with his deliveries into the area. 27 S. Sturaro - Failed to stamp his authority on the match, offering little going forward before being withdrawn at the break. 18 M. Lemina - Excellent in midfield, distributing the ball smartly while providing excellent cover for the back-line. Covered every blade of grass. 10 P. Pogba - Needed to do better to create, but he was so tidy on the ball. Sent a number of teasing passes out wide for Sandro. Should have opened the scoring but saw his first-half header rattle off the underside of the bar. 16 J. Cuadrado - The catalyst in attack for Juventus, running riot on the flank and beating defenders at will. Carved out a number of chances, assisting Zaza's opener and coming close to a goal of his own on several occasions. 7 S. Zaza - Twice came close to opening the scoring with some determined play inside the area before finally providing the breakthrough, with the aid of a considerable deflection off Blanchard. 37 R. Pereyra - Looked capable in possession when drifting into a more central role, while his movement off the ball created plenty of space for Sandro on the overlap. Substitutes 3 G. Chiellini - Sound in defence, though he squandered a great chance to double his side's lead, heading Barzagli's cross over at the far post. 21 P. Dybala - A constant threat in possession, always taking on defenders. Ran well off the ball as well, though was unable to beat Leali. 11 Hernanes - A stinging drive forced Leali into a smart save in the final 10 minutes. Didn't miss a beat in attack after replacing Zaza. Frosinone 33 N. Leali - Made some delightful saves to keep his side in the game, but was twice bailed out by the frame of the goal. Had little chance at keeping out Zaza's deflected effort. 13 M. Ciofani - Had a difficult time with Sandro getting forward on the overlap, but did well to limit Pereyra in possession. 6 L. Blanchard - A careless deflection on Zaza's strike wrong-footed his keeper, allowing the Juventus striker to open the scoring. Atoned for the mistake by heading home the equaliser in injury time to provide Frosinone with their first Serie A point in club history. 24 M. Diakité - Sound positional play helped his cause a great deal, sniffing out a number of chances with some fine reading of the game. 3 R. Crivello - Cuadrado gave him fits, but the Colombian largely had most of his success when drifting into the centre. Did well to keep Lichtsteiner quiet, but his flank saw plenty of action with Juventus in possession. 5 M. Gori - Defensive cover was lacking, getting nowhere close to Pogba in midfield, allowing the Frenchman far too much time and space on the ball. 10 D. Soddimo - Wonderful tracking of Lichtsteiner, while proving very capable on the ball, winning a number of free-kicks for his side. 22 R. Chibsah - His work-rate was equalled by few but he needed to take up better positions in defence. Never shied away from a challenge in midfield and looked confident on the ball. 7 A. Frara - Always tested the hosts with his deliveries from set pieces but, defensively, he had plenty of room for improvement. Allowed Sandro far too much space on the overlap. 9 D. Ciofani - Saw little of the ball and failed to make himself a viable option in attack. Too static up top. 30 N. Castillo - Unlucky not to open the scoring in the first half, pouncing on a failed clearance and sending an effort off the woodwork. Otherwise starved of service in attack. Substitutes 19 A. Tonev - Couldn't provide the clinical nature his side were so desperately lacking in attack after replacing Chibsah for the final 20 minutes. http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

JUVENTUS - FROSINONE 1 - 1 Simone Zaza (50') Leonardo Blanchard (92') MATCHDAY 5 Wednesday, September 23rd, 2015 - 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee:‬ Angelo Cervellera Juventus 1-1 Frosinone: Complacent hosts hand historic point to Serie A newcomers Juventus were left to rue their missed chances as they registered another poor domestic result in a match they've controlled from start to finish. http://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2015/9/24/9390843/juventus-frosinone-2015-serie-a-round-5-final-score-recap-result Sep 24, 2015 About two years ago, profligate was a word used with an annoyingly increased frequency by journalists and football pundits on the old island. At this moment of low morale, it is the only thing that springs to mind. Profligacy. On the night Frosinone won its first ever point in Serie A, Paul Pogba, Juan Cuadrado, Roberto Pereyra, Simone Zaza and Paulo Dybala had this small contest to see who could waste the most chances in 90 minutes or less, depending on the how long Max Allegri can witness their profligacy, shall we say. Zaza was tied with Pogba with seven shots each and would have won it, considering he played less minutes, had his shot not been deflected by a defender and accidentally hitting the back of the net. This mistake from the former Sassuolo man was enough to award the prize to the Frenchman, who also managed to lose Leonardo Blanchard from his mark, as the centre back headed in the equaliser in the second minute of extra time. The Frosinone goal — or Pogba's silly mistake — drew a raging reaction from Allegri, while the result left Juventus in the company of Atalanta and Empoli on the 13th position of the Serie A table with five points from as many games. A trip to San Paolo is on the cards this weekend, where Napoli are doing just a little less poorly than Juventus are at the moment. And with Gonzalo Higuain still a part of their team, it could turn out to be another fun game to watch, as the Argentine's reputation might be enough to let him join Pogba, Dybala and their select group for the game of who can waste the most chances in 90 minutes or less. MATCH SUMMARY As expected, Juventus had the initiative from early on and the closest they got to score was through a couple of long shots from Pogba and Cuadrado, but neither of them managed to hit the target. In the 26th minute, Zaza missed Juventus' first big chance when his failed scissors-kick attempt from inside the six-yard box sailed wide of Nicola Leali's goal. Just four minutes later, Pogba couldn't clear a ball from the centre of the box and it felt to Nicolas Castillo whose effort hit Neto's right post, before another attempt from Alessandro Frara was apparently blocked by Andrea Barzagli's arm, but the referee waved play on and awarded a corner kick. Ten minutes before the break, Alex Sandro found Stefano Sturaro with a great cross but the 22-year-old midfielder couldn't direct his header on target from close range. Pogba missed the best chance of the first half in the 41st minute when he latched on to a great cross from Pereyra and his towering header from six yards only found the crossbar. Allegri reacted to the lack of real chances created by Juventus in the first half and made a double substitution at the break, replacing Stephan Lichtsteiner with Giorgio Chiellini and Sturaro with Paulo Dybala, switching to 3-5-2. The young Argentine striker was quick to made his presence felt and had a first chance early in the second half when his shot from just outside the penalty area was palmed away by Leali. A few moments later, Zaza's diving header from close range was deflected by a defender and had a weird trajectory, hitting the crossbar. Pereyra followed the rebound but he couldn't guide the ball in. Juventus kept applying the pressure on the opposite defence and finally found the breakthrough in the 50th minute. Zaza sent a first time shot from outside the box after receiving a short pass from Cuadrado and the ball was deflected by a defender before hitting the back of the net, giving Leali no chance to react. Zaza was close to a second just a couple of minutes later after Cudrado did a great job to beat his man on the right flank and send a cross inside the box, but Leali managed to hold the striker's effort. Pogba had another good chance to score in the 55th minute as Alex Sandro found the Frenchman in the centre of the penalty area, but his shot was weak and easily held by the goalkeeper. Moments later, another long shot from Cuadrado from the right corner of the box only missed the far post by a couple of inches. Danilo Soddimo gave a weak sign Frosinone was still looking to score in the 62nd minute when his shot from a long way out flew wide of Neto's goal. Frosinone came closer to Juve's goal in the 75th minute through Daniel Ciofani but the striker couldn't get a shot in as Leonardo Bonucci's sliding tackle cleared the danger away. Two minutes later, the bad luck that followed Juventus this season couldn't stay away in this game either as Zaza chased a loose ball on the left wing but only managed to keep it in play with the cost of an injury and was replaced by Hernanes. As the game entered in its final 10 minutes, the Bianconeri wasted two more chances in as many minutes. First, Bonucci found himself in an unusual position wide off the pitch but delivered an amazing cross for an unmarked Chiellini at the far post who somehow put his header over the goal. Pereyra then missed another opportunity after faking a shot and sending his man sliding past, but his effort from a tight angle whizzed inches wide off the far post. With the match drawing to an end, Hernanes had a powerful shot from outside the area saved by Leali, before yet another attempt from Dybala sailed over the crossbar. Referee Angelo Cervellera blew the final whistle after three minutes of injury time, but not before Dybala had failed to score with another two long shots. Yes, I know, that is not what happened but I had already written it before full time and just felt like leaving it here for people to wonder. What actually happened, Leonardo Blanchard easily broke free off Pogba's mark and managed to equalise with a header in the second minute of injury time following a corner kick. LE PAGELLE Neto: 5.5 Had very little to do in his first official game for Juventus and was robbed of a clean sheet in the dying moments Lichtsteiner: 5.5 Was rather lively in the attacking side of the game in the first half with little defending to do. Came off at the break as Allegri changed the system Barzagli: 6 Steady as ever at the back, but misplaced an unusual amount of passes Bonucci: 6.5 Made a couple of great interventions to prevent Frosinone from scoring and surprised everybody delivering a pin-point cross only for Chiellini to waste it Sandro: 6.5 A good attacking presence on the left side, delivering a couple of great crosses for his teammates Sturaro: 6 Rarely managed to come up with anything useful on the build-up play but did little wrong too Lemina: 7 Impressive defensive contribution from the Frenchman who has now put in a second consecutive solid performance in the centre of the park Pogba: 5.5 Made a grave mistake to concede the goal and his little tricks and flicks were irritating to watch, as they resulted in little. Declared Mr Wasteful of the evening Cuadrado: 7 The most active man upfront for Juventus. Created a lot of chances but his shooting accuracy was a big minus Zaza: 7 Rewarded Allegri with a goal for handing him a place for the first time in the starting XI and was unlucky not to get a second. Pereyra: 6.5 Played some good balls inside the box and it was a pity his incisive individual actions came to nothing Subs Chiellini: 6 Like his colleagues from the backline, had little to do in defending but missed a big chance to seal the game for Juventus Dybala: 6.5 Extremely active in the final third but a bit too hasty in decisions at time Hernanes: 6 Replaced Zaza with just over 10 minutes left. Still had time to miss to join the party and miss two chances Coach Allegri: 6 It is hard to put the result down as his fault, as he reacted quickly to change the system at half-time. Took the right decision during the game and the players' complacency is something Allegri can mend for the coming matches http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127